title: R1 resection by necessity for colorectal liver metastases: is it still a contraindication to surgery?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare long-term outcome of R0 (negative margins) and R1 (positive margins) liver resections for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) treated by an aggressive approach combining chemotherapy and repeat surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Complete macroscopic resection with negative margins is the gold standard recommendation in the surgical treatment of CLM. However, due to vascular proximity or multinodularity, complete macroscopic resection can sometimes only be performed through R1 resection. Increasingly efficient chemotherapy may have changed long-term outcome after R1 resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  All resected CLM patients (R0 or R1) at our institution between 1990 and 2006 were prospectively evaluated. Exclusion criteria were: macroscopic incomplete (R2) resection, use of local treatment modalities, and presence of extrahepatic disease. We aimed to resect all identified metastases with negative margins. However, when safe margins could not be obtained, resection was still performed provided complete macroscopic tumor removal. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival were compared between groups, and prognostic factors were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 840 patients, 436 (52%) were eligible for the study, 234 (28%) of whom underwent R0 resection, and 202 (24%) underwent R1 resection. Number and size of CLM were higher, and distribution was more often bilateral in the R1 group. After a mean follow-up of 40 months, 5-year OS was 61% and 57% for R0 and R1 patients (P = 0.27). Five-year disease-free survival was 29% in the R0 group versus 20% in the R1 group (P = 0.12). In the R1 group, intrahepatic (but not surgical margin) recurrences were more often observed (28% vs. 17%; P = 0.004). Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level > or =10 ng/mL and major hepatectomy, but not R1 resection, were independent predictors of poor OS. Size > or =30 mm, bilateral distribution, and intraoperative blood transfusions independently predicted positive surgical margins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a higher recurrence rate, the contraindication of R1 resection should be revisited in the current era of effective chemotherapy because survival is similar to that of R0 resection.
authors.affiliation: AP-HP Hôpital Paul Brousse, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Robbert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Haas
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wicherts
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Azoulay
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castaing
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000075202:Contraindications; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome